12 thoughts on “Reading The Constitution Isn’t Enough”

  1. Klein, would gladly shit can the Constitution for something better, like the Communist Manifesto. or Chairman Mao’s Red Book. or Pol Pot’s re-education camps and killing fields!.
    .
    NO binding power? IF that’s true, then anyone can take over, because Obama is NOT the President any more, Biden is NOT the VP any more and Nanny Pelosi is NOT next in line any more.
    .
    And the military doesn’t work for any of them, any more. Sounds like time to throw one hell of a short, decisive revolution.

    Why not, if the Constitution has no power, there’s no law AGAINST a revolution, any more?

  2. There can never be a law against revolution; our foundation is based upon it.

    I fantasize about a constitution which starts with…

    The federal government shall make no law. Period. No amendments either.

    The fed shall consist of three agencies: defense, state, public information.

    Defense and state will each have independent spy networks.

    Member of the state department that work for a foreign interest against our own shall be criminals losing their citizenship.

    Legal residents and citizen shall have absolute right to their own property (government can take no revenue directly from individuals.) The fed is responsible for defense of the nation and it’s citizens. One senator from each state appointed by the state governor shall have oversight responsibilities regarding an annual public defense and public information budgets. States may establish a state sales tax to pay their share determined by census every ten years.

    Legals shall have reasonable right to liberty (states may make laws to balance one persons liberty verses anothers with a presumption of liberty for all.) States may not restrict the movement of citizens anywhere except for criminal activities. They may leave or enter without invasion of their person.

    States are subject to a reasonable penalty for pollution leaving the state.

    There are only two criminal penalties: death or expulsion. Anything not considered serious enough for death terminates citizenship and result in deportation. Parents are completely responsible for the actions of their children unless the child in emancipated prior to the criminal act.

  6. I guess that there would be some mechanism for emancipating yourself from your children?

    Truth in advertising: Parent of a former juvenile delinquent. If I had been held responsible for my childs’ actions, we would not be having this (electronic) conversation.

  7. The advice Rand provides should be for all children in the US. If that was done, then this would happen less often:

    smart scholars of good faith continue to disagree about it.

    However, I think Ezra should be very careful for what he is wishing. If he thinks the Constitution is too old and that we need a totally new one; he probably won’t get what he likes.

  8. It’s fine that the Constitution will be read at the opening of the new congress, it would be much better if the congress critters will actually listen to and comprehend it’s words.

  9. I would also argue that you read the Anti-Federalist Papers which argued against the Constitution on the grounds it took too much power from the States and would eventually replace them with a powerful and intrusive central government. (sounds familiar?)

    The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates by Ralph Louis Ketcham

    Tea Party Advocates will especially find it a rich source of quotes from early leaders to support their arguments for a limited Federal government. The speeches of Patrick Henry which are included are an especially good source material. And if you buy it through Rand’s website you help him out 🙂

  10. So Ken, if I voted against murder being a crime I couldn’t be held guilty under that law?

    If you could get a majority of voters in your county to agree. Yep. However, this isn’t a complete thought on the subject (written while tired.)

  12. Huh, so if the Constitution is no big deal, why was it such a big deal back when George Bush was “shredding” it?

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